Ganoderma lucidum KCCM 10045 which produces proteoglycan (G009) having effect of antitumor immunity

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a strain, Ganoderma lucidum IY 009 which produces a proteoglycan G 009 possessed of antitumoral and immunostimulating effects, separated from the said cultured strain, containing: β-glucose, α-glucose, galactose, α-mannose and fructose as saccharide components, and glycine, alanine, histidine, arginine, valine, aspartic acid, threonine, isoleucine, serine, leucine, glutamic acid, tyrocine, proline, phenylalanine and methionine as protein components. The Ganoderma lucidum IY 009 is deposited under accession number KCCM 10045.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/066,160, filed as PCT/KR91/00032, published as WO92/10562, Jun. 25, 1992, now abandoned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a saccharide analysis chromatogram of proteoglycan G009 according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an amino acid chromatogram of proteoglycan G009 according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an I.R. analysis diagram of proteoglycan G009 according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a microphotograph showing the mycelia of a strain IY 009 according to the present invention.

FIGS. 5A-5D compare various strains of G. lucidum. 5A shows an esterase profile, 5B shows an acid phosphatase profile, 5C shows a leucine aminopeptidase profile, and 5D shows a peroxidase profile.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a strain which produces a proteoglycan effective in enhancing antitumor immunity.

In order to search for a new proteoglycan which has the effect of promotion of antitumor immunity, the present inventors collected a large number of basidiomycetes and attempted to separate a proteoglycan produced by those basidiomycetes. In sequel thereto, it was found that strains of the genus of Ganoderma which belongs to basidiomycetes, picked up in the area of the Dooryoon Mountains located in the South Cholla Province, produces a proteoglycan which has the effect of promoting antitumor immunity when cultured in a proper culture medium. After the produced proteoglycan was separated and its physicochemical and biophysical properties were examined, it was designated as proteoglycan G009 which has the effect of promoting antitumor immunity and the strain which produces it was designated as Ganoderma lucidum IY 009 (a number of deposition to the Korean Species Association is KFCC-107090 dated Oct. 5, 1990, and deposited under the terms and conditions of the Budapest Treaty as KCCM 10045 at the Korean Culture Center of Microoganisms, at Yongsei University, Seoul, Korea, on Nov. 22, 1990).

The present invention relates to the strain IY 009 which produces G009. Although researches have been conducted in such medicinal components as antibacterial, hallucinative, toxicant and cholesterol-lowering components from the basidiomycetes belonging to a higher fungus, earnest study is now given to an antitumor component and an immunity improvement action therefrom, and so basidiomycetes are rising in importance. Thus, those strains which secrete such matter as contains an antitumor component and improves an immunity function were separated and cultured in liquid to make a study of its pharmacological effect.

During the study, a mutant strain which has an antitumor effect and an immunity improvement function that are more excellent than the species belonging to the genus of Ganoderma which has been identified until now was separated and an in-liquid mycelia culture method was established and then the antitumor effect and immunity improvement function of those components extracted from the cultured mycelia were confirmed.

The present invention will now be described in detail according to the following example and experiments.

EXAMPLE Separation of Proteoglycans

1) Strain

The ganoderma lucidum starins were collected in the area of the Dooryoon Mountains located in the South Cholla Province and separated with identification.

2) Preserved Culture Medium

An inclined culture medium of potato dextrose agar (PDA); 39 g of potato dextrose culture medium (Difico, USA) was made into 1 liter by dissolving it in distilled water and it was made into an inclined culture medium after high-pressure sterilization for 20 minutes at 121° C.

A Culture Medium for In-liquid Culture

50 g of glucose, 20 g of peptone, 0.87 g of KH₂ PO₄, 0.5 g of MgSO₄.7H₂ O, 10 mg of FeCl₂. 6H₂ O, 7 mg of MnCl₂.4H₂ O, 10 mg of ZnSO₂.5H₂ O and 4 mg of ZnCl were made into 1 liter by adding distilled water thereto. It was sterilized for 20 minutes at 121° C. after adjusting the pH value to 5.5.

3) Culture

The strains kept in custody were transplanted into the inclined culture media and grown for 7 days at 25±1° C. Then, the grown mycelia were separated in an aseptic way and put into 100 ml of culture medium for in-liquid culture and triturated with a microblender for 15 seconds. It was moved into a 500 ml-Ehrlenmeyer flask and shake-cultured for 10 days at 180 rpm and 25±1° C. until the mycelium formed a mature mycetome with a diameter of about 5 mm.

After the mycetome was triturated with a microblender for 10 seconds, it was inoculated at 5% (V/V) into 500 ml-triangular flask containing a 100 ml culture medium for in-liquid culture and shake-cultured for 10 days under the same conditions as stated above.

The cultured mycelia were made into species by triturating them again for 10 seconds and the 100 ml-culture medium for in-liquid culture was put into the 500 ml-triangular flask and the species was inoculated thereinto at 5% (V/V). Then, the culture was shake-cultured at 170 rpm for 7 days in an orbital shaker (the radius of revolution: 1 inch, Vision Science Co.) at 25±1° C.

4) Extraction and Separation of Proteoglycans

After the whole of culture-finished solution was centrifugally separated for 15 minutes by 6000 rpm, only mycelia were taken and digested into a twofold 2.5N NaOH solution. The suspension was left as it was for 24 hours at room temperature and centrifugally separated for 15 minutes at 6000 rpm. After the supernatant solution was neutralized to pH 7.4 with glacial acetic acid, it was dialyzed for 3 days with a visking tube (Sigma, USA). After dialysis, it was concentrated and twofold ethanol was added thereto. After it was left as it was for 24 hours at 4° C., it was centrifugally separated by 6000 rpm for 15 minutes and a precipitate was obtained therefrom. The precipitate was dissolved in deionized water and the supernatant solution was concentrated by centrifugal concentration for 1 minute at 6000 rpm and a proteoglycan was obtained therefrom by lyophilizing the concentrated solution.

5) Purification of Proteglycan

12.5 g of precipitate taken from the above sample was dissolved in water and excessive ethanol was added thereto was dissolved in water again. After this sample solution was applied to DEAE-cellulose (Cl-form) column (3 cm×60 cm), it was centrifugally separated by adding the same amount of methanol to 200 ml of elution fraction obtained by elution with water and G1 (2.1 g) was obtained by washing a precitate in ethanol and dessicating it under reduced pressure. G2 (0.42g) was obtained by the decompressed dessication of a precipitate obtained after a supernatant solution (400 ml) was centrifugally separated by adding 400 ml of ethanol thereto. G3 (1.1 g) was obtained by the decompressed essication of a precipitate obtained after a supernatant solution (400 ml) was centrifugally separated by adding ethanol (800 ml) again to the supernatant solution (800 ml) remaining after G2 was removed.

G1 was eluted with by dissolving it in water and applying it to Sephatex G-100. G4 (1.5 g) was obtained by liophilizing the fraction of a tube No. 25-33 and separated by the decompressed dessication of G5 (0.3 g) including the fraction of a tube No. 34-44. After G4 was dissolved in water and the same amount of a solution mixed in the same amount was added to 0.15M cetavelon (cethytrimethyl ammonium bromide) and 0.1M borate buffer (pH 8.0), a precipitate (G7) and a supernatant solution (G6) were taken by adjusting pH to 9.0 with 0.5M NaOH. After G7 was dissolved in water by adding 2M glacial acetic acid, a precipitate was obtained by adding twofold methanol. After the precipitate was washed in methanol and aceton, it was dessicated under reduced pressure (G8). After G8 was applied to Sephararose C1-4B by dissolving it in small amount of water, it was eluted with water and G9 was obtained from a tube No. 25-30. G10 was obtained from the fractions 31-46.

Experiment 1

Anticancer Test

An activity test of fractions obtained as above was conducted as follows using sarcoma-180 cells:

The fraction was implanted at intervals of one week into the abdominal cavities of 20-25 g ICR male mice and successively transfered sarcoma-180 cells were used as experimental tumor cells.

The Sarcoma-180 cells cultured for 7 days in the abdominal cavities of those mice were taken together with abdominal dropsy. The tissue was suspended in ice-chilled sterile saline and centrifuged for 5 minutes at 4000 rpm and the pellet of cells was separated.

The separated cells were washed in a physiological saline solution three times and diluted so as to attain 1×10⁷ cells/mg. 0.1 ml of this cell suspension was transplanted using a hypodermic needle, into the left inguinal regions of a group of 10 mice.

Proteoglycans, as purified fractions, were administered to those mice for 10 consecutive days 72 hours after tumor cells were transplanted. A physiological saline solution was administered to the control group and the proteoglycans dissolved in a physiological saline solution were administered to the test group (0.1 ml at 20 mg/kg).

On the 30th day after transplantation of tumor cells, the mice were killed and the induced solid cancer was extracted. Then, average tumor weight was measured and percent tumor inhibition ratio was calculated according to the formula given below. ##EQU1## I.R.=Percent inhibition ratio CW=Average tumor weight of control group

TW=Average tumor weight of test group

As the result of an antitumor experiment conducted with sarcoma-180, G9 which was found most excellent in the control group as shown in Table 1 was picked up and designated as G009. Analysis thereof was made in the following experiments.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Anticancer effects of proteoglycan in mice into which                          sarcoma-180 was transplanted                                                            average weight of tumors (g)                                          proteoglycan                                                                            (Mean ± S.E)   inhibition ratio (%)                                ______________________________________                                         control  4.66 ± 0.17                                                        G1       1.43 ± 0.25    69.3                                                G2       3.54 ± 0.36    24.1                                                G3       3.46 ± 0.39    25.7                                                G4       1.05 ± 0.17    77.4                                                G5       1.83 ± 0.29    60.7                                                G6       1.62 ± 0.10    65.2                                                G7       0.64 ± 0.22    86.2                                                G8       0.43 ± 0.21    90.7                                                G9       0.17 ± 0.09    96.3                                                 G10     1.40 ± 0.17    69.9                                                ______________________________________                                    

For chemical analysis of G009, the aggregate amount of saccharide was measured by Anthrone's color developing method and protein content was measured by Lowry et al's method. Then, the amino acid and saccharide composition were analyzed.

Results thereof are shown in Tables 2,3 and 4. A saccharide chromatogram is shown in FIG. 1. An amino acid chromatogram is shown in FIG. 2 and infrared analysis is shown in FIG. 3.

G.L.C. (Shimadzu GC 9A, Japan) protocol for analysis of saccharide:

Column

3% 0V-17 (80-100) (mesh shimalite)

3 mmφ×1 boronssilicate glass column

Temperature Column 150°-180° C. Gradient, Detector 190° C.

Flow rate

N₂ : 50 ml/min

H₂ : 60 ml/min (0.6 kg/cm²)

Air: 60 ml/min (0.6 kg/cm²)

Attenuation 10² ×2¹ a.f.s (ampere full scale)

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Total contents of polysaccharide and protein in G 009                          Total content                                                                               polysaccharide (%)                                                                          protein (%)                                          ______________________________________                                         G 009        93           5                                                    ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Content of monosaccharide in the polysaccharide part of G 009.                 monosaccharide Relative ratio (%)                                              ______________________________________                                         α-glucose                                                                               45.84                                                           β-glucose 41.70                                                           galactose      8.03                                                            α-mannose                                                                               3.32                                                            fructose       1.11                                                            ______________________________________                                    

Requirements for use of amino acid autoanalyzer (Beckman Sys. 6300, USA):

Column: 2.6×200 mm

Ion exchange resin: #338076 (Beckman)

Flow rate: Buffer solution 0.33 ml/min Ninhydrin 0.17 ml/min

Analysis cycle time: 60 min

Column pressure: 2100 psi (147 Kg/cm²)

Ninhydrin pressure: 100 psi (7 Kg/Cm²)

Column temperature: 50°-70° C. Gradient

N₂ gas pressure: 40 psi

Reaction bath temperature: 130° C.

Wave length: 570 nm, 440 nm

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         Total amino acid content in the protein part of G 009.                         Amino acids                                                                              μmol/ml  Amino acids                                                                              μmol/ml                                     ______________________________________                                         Gly       8.070       Ile       3.499                                          Lys       4.133       Ser       2.066                                          Ala       7.072       Leu       5.973                                          His       1.469       Glu       11.031                                         Thr       3.191       Tyr       1.638                                          Arg       0.796       Pro       6.446                                          Val       5.800       Phe       2.316                                          Asp       9.435       Met       0.938                                          ______________________________________                                    

Experiment 2

A Variation of Antitumor Effects According to G009 Administration Routes

G 009 was transplanted into the abdominal cavities of 20-25 g ICR male mice at intervals of one week and sarcoma-180 cells were used as experimental cells. The sarcoma-180 cells cultured for 7 days in the abdominal cavities of those mice were taken together with abdominal dropsy. The tissue was suspended in ice-cold sterile saline and the suspension was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes. The pellet of cells was separated therefrom.

The separated cells were washed three times in a physiological saline solution and diluted so as to attain 1×10⁷ cells/ml. 24 hours after 1×10⁷ cells/ml of cell suspension was transplanted into a group of 10 mice, 20 mg/kg was injected into the muscle, subcutis, under the skin and into the abdominal cavity 10 times every other day and 10 mg/kg was intravenously 5 times every other day. 0.1 ml of a physiological saline solution was also administered to the control group in the same manner. After 30 days, the weight of solid cancer was measured and compared.

As shown in Table 5, a cancerous growth was inhibited regardless of administration routes.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Comparison of antitumor effects according to the administration routes         Administration        Weight of tumor                                                                             Inhibition                                  route    Number of mice                                                                              (test group/control)                                                                        ratio (%)                                   ______________________________________                                         Muscle   10           0.22/4.46    95.1                                        Subcutis 10           0.28/4.52    93.8                                        Abdomen  10           0.18/4.72    96.1                                        Vein     10           0.21/4.45    95.2                                        ______________________________________                                    

Experiment 3

Life Lengthening Effects of G 009 Administration

Ehrlich ascite tumor cells (EAT) were used to measure the antitumor activity of G 009 in the living body of mice. 1×10⁶ and 5×10⁷ cells/ml of EAT were injected into the abdominal cavity. After 24 hours, G009 was dissolved in a phosphate buffer solution and 100 mg/kg thereof was administered into the abdominal cavity and mouth for 12 consecutive days. Then, the percentage of mice surviving 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50 days after tumor implantation was measured.

The same amount of physiological saline solution was administered to the control group at the same time.

As shown in Table 6, administration of G 009 into the abdominal cavity and vein produced a similar antitumor effect.

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                         Life lengthening effects of G 009 administration                                                     Survival rate (%) during observing                                             days after transplantation of                            Dose          Number  cancer cells                                             (cells/ml)    of mice 20      25   30   40  50                                 ______________________________________                                         control 1 × 10.sup.6                                                                       10      100   40   10   0   0                                abdominal                                                                              1 × 10.sup.6                                                                       10      100   100  80   70  70                               intravenous                                                                            1 × 10.sup.6                                                                       10      100   90   70   60  60                               control 5 × 10.sup.7                                                                       10      100   30   0    0   0                                abdominal                                                                              5 × 10.sup.7                                                                       10      100   60   30   20  20                               ______________________________________                                    

Experiment 4

Anticancer Effects of G 009 in Mice Treated With Trypan Blue

G 009 was transplanted into the abdominal cavities of 20-25 g ICR male mice at intervals of one week and sucessively passaged sarcoma-180 cells were used as experimental tumor cells. The sarcoma-180 cells cultured for 7 days in the abdominal cavity were taken together with abdominal dropsy. The tissue was suspended in ice-cold, sterile saline and the suspension was centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 5 minutes. The pellet of cells was separated from the supernatant. The separated cells were washed three times in a physiological saline solution and diluted so as to attain 1×10⁷ cells/ml and hypodermically injected into the left inguinal region 0.1 ml by 0.1 ml.

After one day, 4 mg/kg (0.4 ml) of trypan blue was administered into the abdominal cavity. Again, after one day, 1 mg/mouse (0.1 ml) of trypan blue was injected hypodermically at intervals of three days so as to amount to a total of 13 mg/mouse.

Immediately after administration of trypan blue, 10 mg of G 009 was injected intravenously. Into the control group a physiological saline solution was injected instead of G009. Both control group and test group were comprised of 10 mice respectively. 30 days after transplantation of tumors, mice were killed and the weight of tumors was measured. Results for antitumor effects of G009 in mice treated with trypan blue are shown in Table 7. These results reveal that G 009, a component extracted according to the present invention, activates macrophages associated with antitumor effects by the treatment of mice with trypan blue, a macrophage deactivating factor, and that G 009 produces an antitumor effect by activating the function of macrophages together with the antitumor activity of T-lymphocyte.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         Anticancer effects of G 009 in mice treated with trypan blue.                                     weight of tumor (g)                                         Group              (Mean ± S.E)                                             ______________________________________                                         Control group      4.54 ± 0.26                                              Group treated with G 009                                                                          0.14 ± 0.05                                              Group treated with trypan blue                                                                    4.81 ± 0.19                                              Group treated with G 009                                                                          2.69 ± 0.17                                              and trypan blue                                                                ______________________________________                                    

Experiment 5

Effects produced when G 009 is administered into a newborn mouse and the mouse is treated with antithymic globulin after thymectomy

The thymectomy of a 2-day old ICR mouse was conducted according to Sjodin's method. 0.1 ml of a cell suspension of sarcoma-180 cells (1×10⁷ cells/ml) was transplanted into the inguinal region of the mouse 6 weeks after thymectomy.

24 hours after transplantation, 20 mg/kg of G 009 was injected into the muscle 10 times every other day. In order to prevent infection of the mouse which had thymectomy, water containing tetracycline-HCl was fed to it. An antithymic serum was separated according to Tadakuma's method. Thymic cells were separated by dissecting the thymus from 1 2- or 3-week old mouse and made into cell suspension in a phosphate buffer solution.

Then, 1×10⁶ cells/ml of thymic cells were injected into the vein of a rabbit three times at intervals of three weeks for immunization. After one week from the last injection, antithymic serum was taken and deactivated for 30 minutes at 56° C.

After the fraction of IgG (immunoglobulin G) was separated from the deactivated antithymic serum by precipitating it with ammonium sulphate, 0.1 ml thereof was injected into the abdominal cavity of a mouse, one day after inoculation with sarcoma-180 cells, and for the next 10 days.

As to G009, 20 mg/kg was injected into the muscle 5 times every other day after one day from the transplantation of sarcoma-180 cells.

As shown in Table 8 below, the antitumor effect produced by G 009 on the thymectomized mouse was remarkably lower than on the control group. Also, the antitumor effect produced by G 009 on the group treated with antithymic globulin was reduced compared to the control group, a group pseudo-treated with normal rabbit globulin.

Thus, the results of these experiments are considered to reveal that G 009 produces an antitumor effect by activating the function of T-cells.

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                         Comparison of antitumor effects produced by administration                     of G 009 after transplantation of sarcoma-180 into a                           thymectomized newborn mouse (Experiment 1) and into a mouse                    treated with antithymic globulin (Experiment 2).                               Treatment   Number  Dose     Wt. of tumor                                                                            Inhibition                               by kind     of mice (mg/Kg)  (Mean ± S.E)                                                                         ratio (%)                                ______________________________________                                         Ex-    N.M      10      --     4.75 ± 0.37                                                                          --                                     periment                                                                              G 009    10      20 × 10                                                                         0.18 ± 0.06                                                                          96                                     1      T.M      10      --     3.55 ± 0.55                                                                          25                                            G 009    10      20 × 10                                                                         2.70 ± 0.07                                                                          43                                     Ex-    N.M      10      --     5.40 ± 0.31                                                                          --                                     periment                                                                              G 009    10      20 × 5                                                                          0.25 ± 0.04                                                                          95                                     2      A.T.M    10      --     3.78 ± 0.59                                                                          30                                            G 009    10      20 × 5                                                                          3.16 ± 0.59                                                                          41                                            N.R.G.M  10      --     3.26 ± 0.61                                                                          39                                            G 009    10      20 × 5                                                                          1.20 ± 0.10                                                                          77                                     ______________________________________                                          *N.M: Normal mouse                                                             T.M: Mouse the thymus of which was resected                                    A.T.M: Mouse treated with antithymic globulin                                  N.R.G.M: Mouse treated with normal rabbit globulin                       

Experiment 6

Effects Produced by G 009 on the Complement System

Guinea pig sera and fresh human sera were used as the source of complement. A sheep's red blood cell was used as a red blood cell. Antisheep-hemolysin was used as an antibody. Experiment on activating the complement was made as follows:

150 μl of a gelatin veronal buffer solution (GVB²⁺) and 50 μl of a sample were put into a test tube, and 50 μl of the complement (100 units/ml) was added thereto.

After it was made to react for 30 minutes at 37° C., the concentration of complement was adjusted to 1 unit/ml by adding GVB²⁺ thereto.

Sheep's red blood cells sensitized in hemolysin (2 MHU/ml) were added to 2 ml to these mixtures, and 1.0, 1.2, 1.6 units were added respectively of the complement mixture adjusted with GVB²⁺ solution, and the total quantity was adjusted so as to amount to 5 ml with GVB²⁺.

The reaction was incubated for 60 minutes at 37° C. Then the cells were separated by centrifugal separation at 2500 rpm for 5 minutes. The absorbance of the supernatant was measured at 541 nm. The degree of activity was the percentage of the complement consumed by the G009-treated group compared to the control group.

As shown in Table 9, the amount of the complement consumed increased in proportion to the concentration of G 009. Such an increase can be considered to reveal that G 009 increases immunity by activating the function of the complement which is one of the important protective functions of immune system.

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         Effects of G 009 on the activation of the compliment system                                   Amount of the comsumed                                                 conc (μg/ml)                                                                        complement (%) (Mean ± S.D)                                  ______________________________________                                         G 009    10        15.2 ± 0.59                                                       50        27.9 ± 0.43                                                       100       36.4 ± 0.1                                                        200       45.5 ± 0.3                                                        600       52.2 ± 0.7                                               ______________________________________                                    

Experiment 7

Effects Produced by G 009 on the Weight of Organs Associated With Immunity

5 days after intravenous injection of G009 into mice at a dosage of 10 mg/kg, the lungs, the livers and the spleens were taken out and their weight was measured. Lysozyme activity was measured by absorbance at 660 nm using Streptococcus lysodeticus as a substrate in phosphate buffer (pH 6.2).

As shown in Table 10, the reason that the weight of the spleen and the degree of activity of lysozyme registered an increase in the group treated with G 009 was that G 009 activated macrophage and the activity value of lysozyme was thereby increased.

                                      TABLE 10                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Effects of G 009 administration on the activity of                             serum enzyme and on the weight of organs                                              Number                                                                              Weight                                                                               Liver  Spleen Lungs  Lysozyme                                       of mice                                                                             (g)   (%)    (%)    (%)    (μg/ml)                              __________________________________________________________________________     No treatment                                                                          10   24.8 ± 1.0                                                                        6.54 ± 0.12                                                                        0.37 ± 0.01                                                                        0.56 ± 0.02                                                                         8.75 ± 0.23                         G 009  10   24.5 ± 1.2                                                                        6.60 ± 0.21                                                                        0.42 ± 0.04                                                                        0.54 ± 0.07                                                                        10.01 ± 0.48                         __________________________________________________________________________      *Weight of each organ is a relative value to the weight of a mouse.      

Experiment 8

Effects of G 009 on the Number of Hemolytic Plaque Forming Cells

1). A group of 5 ICR male mice weighing 20-25 g was used as laboratory animals and a sample of G009 at 20 mg/kg was injected into their abdominal cavities for 5 consecutive days. 7 days after the last administration, they were immunized by injecting sheep's red blood cells into their abdominal cavities at 1×10⁶ cells/ml. Then, the spleen was taken out 4 days after sheep's red blood cells were administered thereinto.

The spleen cells were extricated by triturating the spleen with a blender together with an equilibrium salt solution chilled with ice. The extricated spleen cells were suspended in a 0.83% ammonium chloride solution and left as they were for 3 minutes at 37° C. The supernatent following centrifugal separation for 5 minutes by 2000 rpm was removed. The cells were again suspended in the equilibrium salt solution chilled with, pelleted, resuspended and the number of the spleen cells was measured with a hemocytometer.

2). Sheep red blood cells suspended in Alser's solution (20.5 g of glucose, 4.2 g of sodium chloride and 8.0 g of sodium citrate were dissolved in 1 liter of distilled water and filtered (MILLIPORE™ (0.45 μm) were washed four times in the equilibrium salt solution for 5 minutes by 2000 rpm and suspended in the same solution so as to amount to 10% in final concentration.

3). A basement plate was made by pouring 10 ml of 1.5% agar (Noble agar, Difco) into a petri dish. Again, 100 μl of 1) and 100 μl of sheep red blood cells of 2) were mixed into 2 ml of 0.7% agar and poured into the petri dish to attain uniform spread. After it was sensitized for 60 minutes at 37° C., 2.5 ml moisture-absorbed guinea pig serum was diluted ten-fold with an equilibrium salt solution as the complement and added to the agar plate and cultured for 30 minutes at 37° C. Then, the number hemolytic plaque forming cells among all spleem cells (PFC/spleen) were calculated.

As shown in Table 11 below, G 009 cause the number of spleen cells and the number of hemolytic plaque forming cells to increase remarkably. Thus, G 009 is considered to be associated with an immunostimulating action.

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                         Effects of G 009 on hemolytic plaque forming cells in the spleens of           mice immunized with sheep's red blood cells                                    Noumber of    Number of spleen                                                                           PFC/the spleen cells                                 mice          cells (1 × 10.sup.7)                                                                 (1 × 10.sup.6)                                 ______________________________________                                         Control                                                                              5           38.6 ± 2.1                                                                              24.4 ± 11.2                                   G 009 5           42.6 ± 0.11                                                                             51.0 ± 14.5                                   ______________________________________                                    

Experiment 9

Immunostimulating Action

Each group comprises 10 mice. 6-week old, 20-25 g, male, ICR mice were used. G 009 was dissolved in a physiological saline solution and 0.2 ml of solution was administered into their abdominal cavities. 24 hours later, 0.2 ml of carbon suspension manufactured by mixing 1 ml of perikan drawing ink 17 black and 2 ml of physiological saline solution was injected into the veins of their tails. Then, at 1, 5, 10 and 15 minutes, 0.02 ml of blood was taken from the orbit of an eye with a hematocrit capillary tube coated with heparin and immediately diluted and hemolyzed with 1.6 ml of an aqueous solution of sodium carbonate. The absorbance of this solution was measured at 675 nm and a phagocytosis index (K value) was measured according to Halpern et al's equation. In the control group, 0.2 ml of physiological saline solution was administered to the mouse. ##EQU2## In the above equation, C_(o) is the content of carbon powder in blood at time t_(o).

C is the content of carbon powder in blood at time t.

Results of these experiments are shown in Table 12 below. The index (K) of immunophagocytosis was increased in proportion to the concentration of G 009. According to those results, G 009 appears most likely to produce an immunostimulating effect by playing a part in immunoresponse.

                  TABLE 12                                                         ______________________________________                                         Effects of G 009 on immunostimulating action.                                  Dose           Number   Index of phagocytosis (K)                              (mg/Kg)        of mice  (Mean ± S.E)                                        ______________________________________                                         control                                                                               saline solution                                                                            10       0.0391 ± 0.003                                  G 009   5          10       0.1109 ± 0.025                                         20          10       0.1453 ± 0.022                                         50          10       0.1643 ± 0.008                                         100         10       0.1845 ± 0.011                                  ______________________________________                                    

Experiment 10

Toxicity Test of G 009

Acute toxicity test of G 009 was conducted on mice, rats and rabbits and results thereof were measured after 14 days from administration of G 009.

As shown in Table 13 below, there was no mortality found through routes and species. Therefore, G 009 is a safe material remarkably low in toxicity.

                  TABLE 13                                                         ______________________________________                                         Results of toxicity test of G 009                                              Tested                                                                               Number of                                                                               Dose           Mortal-                                                                              Maximum                                    animal                                                                               mice     (mg/Kg)   Route                                                                               ity   allowance (mg/kg)                          ______________________________________                                         Mouse 10       100-300   i.v  0     >300                                             10        50-2000  i.p  0     >2000                                            10        50-100   i.m  0     >100                                             10       1000-2000 s.c  0     >2000                                      Rat   10       100-300   i.v  0     >300                                             10        500-1000 i.p  0     >1000                                            10        50-100   i.m  0     >100                                             10        500-1000 s.c  0     >1000                                      Rabbit                                                                               10       100-200   i.v  0     >200                                             10       100-200   i.p  0     >200                                             10       25-50     i.m  0     >50                                              10        50-100   s.c  0     >100                                       ______________________________________                                    

Experiment 11

Comparison of Characteristics Between the Species

In order to ascertain the phylogenetic classification and physiological genetic differences of four kinds of type strains (retained by Bacteria 2 section, Agricultural Technology Institute, Office of Rural Development) found excellent as the result of a search made for an anticancer effect produced by those Ganoderma lucidum strains collected in various areas of the country, the following experiments were conducted.

Experimental Materials and Methods

Used Strains, Culture Medium and Culture

The strains used for the present experiment were four strains found excellent in anticancer effect among those Ganoderma lucidum strains which grew naturally in the country and the places of collection are shown in Table 14.

Extraction of a Sample

The mycelia obtained by centrifugal separation of a liquid culture were washed three times in a phosphate buffer saline solution (pH 7.5)n and sonicated for 30 seconds under ice-cooling.

After centrifugal separation at 12000×g, its supernatent solution was used as a sample for electrophoresis.

Quantification of Proteins

Proteins in sample were quantified with bovine serum albumin (BSA) used as a type material and by using a protein assay reagent (Pierce Co.).

Electrophoresis

A discontinuous buffer system was used for electrophoresis. Separating gel was prepared by concentrating it to 10% C, 10% T in 240 nM Tris-Cl buffer solution (pH 8.48) and stacking gel was prepared by concentrating it to 3.125% T and 20% C in a Tris buffer solution (39.5 mM Tris, 0.064N H₃ PO₄, pH 6.9).

In order to solidify these gels, TEMED and ammonium persulfate were used. As running buffers, 40 mM Tris-glycine buffer solution (pH 8.8) was used at anode and 60 mM Tris-Cl buffer solution (pH 7.47) was used at cathode. 70 μg of the sample was loaded on the gels and separated for 2 hours with 100V at 4° C.

Gel Staining

(1). Esterase (E.C. 3,1,1,1)

After electrophoresis, the gels were soaked in 0.2M phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.5) for 30 minutes. While those gels were being soaked, said solution was replaced with a new solution three times. After soaking, a color developing solution (α-naphthylacetate 20 mg, ethylene glycolmonoethyl ether 2 ml, fast blue RR salt 20 mg, 0.2M phosphate buffer 120 ml) was added thereto and agitated at 35° C. in the dark place for color development.

(2). Acid Phosphatase (E.C. 3,1,3,2)

After incubating the gel in 0.1M acetate buffer solution (pH 5.2), a color developing solution (10% MgCl₂ solution 6 ml, fist garnet GBC salt 70 mg, α-naphthylphosphate 80 mg, β-naphthylphosphate 40 mg, 0.1M acetate buffer 100 ml) was added thereto for color development for 30 minutes at 37° C.

(3). Leucine Amino Peptidase (E.C. 3,4,11,1)

A color developing solution (L-leucyl-β-naphthylamide HCl 20 mg, fast blue K salt 20 mg, distilling water 50 ml, 0.2M Tris-malate buffer (pH 5.4) 120 ml) was added to the gels for color development for 30 minutes in the dark place.

(4). Peroxidase (E.C. 1,11,1,7)

After the gels were washed in water, a color developing solution (Benzidine 1%, acetic acid 9 ml, mixed solution of 1 part of benzidine solution mixed with 40 ml of distilled water, 1 part of 0.03% H₂ O and 4 parts of distilled water) was added thereto for color development in the dark.

Results of these experiments were as follows:

Isozyme Pattern of Esterase

As to the esterase bands of Ganoderma lucidum, 17 bands came forth in all as shown in FIG. 1. The 5th and 15th bands were common to all strains. The esterase pattern of type strains Fr 07004, Fr 07008 and IY 005 were very similar to one another but the esterase pattern of IY 009 and IY 010 were greatly different from others.

Isoenzyme Pattern of Acid Phosphatase

As shown in FIG. 5, the acid phosphatase pattern of type strains Fr 07004, Fr 07008 and IY 005 were very similar to one another but IY 009 and IY 010 showed a different band pattern from others.

Isoenzyme Pattern of Leucine Amino Peptidase

From Ganoderma lucidum, 3 leucine amino peptidase bands came forth in all. Although those type strains Fr 07004, Fr 07008 and IY 005 showed the same pattern for the most part, IY 009 showed a pattern entirely different from them (FIG. 5).

Isoenzyme Pattern of Peroxidase

2 peroxidase bands came forth from the strain of Ganoderma lucidum and there was a great affinity among type strains Fr 07004, Fr 07008 and IY 005 (FIG. 5).

Affinity Between the Species

As shown in Table 15, an affinity between type strains Fr 07008 and IY 005 represented 93.8% and an affinity between type strain Fr 07004 and IY 005 showed 82.4%, but an affinity between Fr 07004 and IY 010 and between Fr 07004 and IY 009 registered 30.4% and 31.8%.

According to the above results, a difference of isoenzyme pattern in the same species was made due to a biochemical variation caused by a genetic mutation resultant from a difference of geographical environment and such a difference seemed most likely to be associated with the fact that every strain creates a proteoglycan different in anticancer activity.

                  TABLE 14                                                         ______________________________________                                         Areas wherein those strains used for the present                               experiment were collected                                                              A number of                                                                              Areas wherein strains                                        Species strain    were collected   Note                                        ______________________________________                                         Ganoderma                                                                              Fr 07004  Office of Rural Development                                                                     Type strain                                 lucidum Fr 07008  Office of Rural Development                                                                     Type strain                                         IY 005    Kwangnung,                                                                     Kyung-gi Province                                                    IY 008    Dooryoon Mountains,                                                            South Cholla Province                                                IY 009    Dooryoon Mountains,                                                            South Cholla Province                                                IY 010    Chiak Mountains,                                                               Kangwon Province                                             ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 15                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Comparison of an affinity between the strains of Ganoderma lucidum             according to the pattern esterase, leucine amino peptidase and                 peroxidase                                                                     A number    Affinity (%)                                                       Species                                                                              of strain                                                                            FR 07004                                                                            Fr 07008                                                                            IY 005                                                                             IY 008                                                                             IY 010                                                                             IY 009                                       __________________________________________________________________________     Ganoderma                                                                            Fr 07004                                                                             *    77.8 82.4                                                                               82.5                                                                               30.4                                                                               31.8                                         lucidum                                                                              Fr 07008   *    93.8                                                                               45.0                                                                               32.8                                                                               25.0                                               IY 005          *   45.0                                                                               31.8                                                                               25.0                                               IY 008              *   27.3                                                                               40.0                                               IY 010                  *   25.0                                               IY 009                      *                                            __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated culture of Ganoderma lucidum KCCM
 10045. 